TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter THIRTY SEVEN

Frankie Xiao

... THE NEW DAWN ...

"It's really great that ye' wanted to get out of the apartment today but--" River grabs a hold of my elbow to stop me outside the rundown hospice that houses his father.. "Frankie-- I-- I really don'ae want ye' to do this.. I don'ae want ye' to hear anythin' he has to say--"

The anxious Tiger pleads with me to reconsider, again and again, but my resolution is sound.

I will know everything..
There are some fears that must be faced and this is one of them.

"I have to see, River.." I state surely.. "For myself.. I have to know."

I become more certain of who I want to be each day, or rather who I don't want to be..
I don't want to be the kind of person who hides forever..
I can't live in fear and guilt alone, not now that I know how much more there is to living..
Not now that I know how it feels to love.. To have love.. And to be in love..

The Tiger sighs, releasing me and tucking his hands into his pockets as he blows out a reluctant breath.. "If I do this-- If I take you in there.. Will you let me talk to your father too? Does that sound fair?"

I narrow my eyes on him suspiciously.. "You tricked me?!"

River chuckles softly.. "Ney, there's no trick.. I'm askin' for permission.. Maybe a compromise?"

"If I say no? What?" I fold my arms..

"I dunno.." He mumbles.. "But this is difficult for me-- yer' have to understand, yer' askin' a lot of me here.."

I shake my head.. "I don't want to go back to a life I don't decide, River."

"You keep sayin' so, Wallflower, but Fei is your Da', you can'nae mean that.. I know you miss him.."

"I know what I mean when I talk.. I'm not stupid!" I poke him in the chest and he grabs my finger, bringing it to his lips to kiss it softly..

"I know that.. Believe me, baby.. I know. Ye' speak two languages and read more books in a week than I make it through in a year.. You're so smart it scares me.. Cus I know there's still all these secrets in ye' head.. If ye' really trust me to be your slave, then ye' should know I'd do anythin' for ya.. That my intentions are to make you happy.. I only wanna talk to him, baby.. Tell him that ye' alive.. That ye' safe.. If ye' still wanna stay with me after hearin' what he has to say, then.."

He trails off to nothing.. Like he doesn't believe I will choose to stay with him..

"Then what?"

He takes my face in his warm hands and I melt.. "I can'ae say no to you, Wallflower.. Whatever you tell me to do is what I'll do."
I chew on my lip and he sighs.. "Ye've been upset with me ever since we left Lovey.. What did I do, Lilly?"

"Cherry said you have been around the block." I push at his chest for some distance because I can't breathe his scent and think straight at the same time..

He winces.. "Did she now?"

I take a step back to examine his guilty expression.. "I think she was saying you have sex with a lot of women. Women who aren't me."

He glances around the parking lot, taking a small step back.. "Had.. Past tense.. I told you I'd be faithful, I have been yours since the night we met, Frankie."

"That is what I said.." I chew on my fingertips, worried that it was rude of me to say something so bold to his friend.. "That you are mine."

He smirks in pleased disbelief.. "Princess! You did?!"